THE PARENTS of a junior doctor, who died after working an 86-hour week, are considering legal action against the NHS after receiving advise from Japanese experts.

George and Margaret Massie, of Byrons Lane, Macclesfield, have always maintained that their 27-year-old son Alan worked himself to death.

They claim it was not uncommon for him to work over 100-hours a week at Warrington Hospital.

An inquest after his death in 1994 ruled that Alan was a victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome

But, the Massies said they were prepared to challenge the verdict in court after the case was studied by Japanese lawyers, doctors and scientists.

Margaret told the Macclesfield Express: "The Japanese experts said that without a doubt Alan's death was work related.

"I will never come to terms with the coroner's verdict of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. That didn't mean anything to us.

"Sometimes Alan would tell me he had worked as much as 127 hours a week. He would come in from work and sleep fully clothed on his bed.

"We always thought he was working too hard."

Earlier this year, the couple were contacted by BBC researchers who offered to take documentation detailing Alan's death to the land of the rising sun where death from over work - known as karoshi - is believed to kill up to 10,000 people a year.

Margaret said: "It came absolutely out of the blue. We hadn't heard anything for a such long time and then the TV people asked if we would mind them taking the case to Japan. We were more than happy.

"At the moment we have got to wait and see what they have come up with because I haven't seen the video.

"But we are prepared to take this further. I have made it clear I will take to my grave with me the belief that Alan worked himself to death."

The full details of the Japanese trip will be screened on North West Tonight on BBC1 on September 3.